Wealth is flowing uphill

Paul G. Swanson (Letters, Oct. 29) is outraged about immoral attempts by government liberals to steal his hard-earned money to pay for others’ health care. This attempt to redistribute wealth is downright thievery and victimizes all hardworking, responsible Americans. Hear, hear.

A study of the true meaning of redistribution of income tells a different story. The League of Women Voters’ “The National Voter” (February 2009) concluded that redistribution of wealth is a two-way street with a striking concentration of wealth at the top, and growing.

Between 1962 and 2004, the wealth share held by the bottom 80 percent (most of us), shrank by 3.8 percent and shifted to the top 5 percent. From 1995 to 2006, income of the wealthiest Americans more than doubled while the personal savings rate (a prime indicator of wealth among those who work for wages) declined precipitously.

Clearly, the evidence shows that the redistribution of wealth can move from the bottom to the top, or, as Mr. Swanson fears, from the top toward the bottom. Hear, hear.

Carol Johns

Spokane